Instructions
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Purpose: To write a complete persuasive essay. See Research Checklist.
Tasks:
select a controversial topic from below
Topic
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Racism /Civil right movements
Covid 19 /pandemic/ vaccines
submit a thesis statement and outline with topic sentences;
Five pages (not counting citations page);
include at least three valid research sources (MUST include JSTOR source, website, major newspaper);
quote at least one reading from our semester (remember to cite);
use four RDs (at least one from each category);
five (minimum) vocab;
Use MLA
Don't forget the counterargument and in-text citations.
One tip: In longer papers, a topic you would normally cover in one paragraph may need to be split into more than one. If your paragraphs start looking too long, consider how you can break them up.
Result: work through the entire process of organizing a persuasive argument including valid research
Research checklists
Research Paper Checklist
□ Outline with order of paragraphs and sentences within paragraphs for smooth transitions □ Header
□ 5-line Heading
□ Title that suggests your purpose
□ Intro paragraph
□ Introductory hook: fact, anecdote, statistic, interesting quotation □ Historical context
□ ID piece/composer you plan to discuss
□ Thesis statement: what you plan to discuss, how, why
□ Body paragraphs—at least three. With a formal thesis statement you should have three main points you plan to make. Each paragraph should address one point.
□ Topic sentence: what this paragraph is about
□ Explanation with information, preferably quotation, from research source
□ Commentary on research, including analysis that uses proper music terms, concepts and ideas □ Concluding sentence that does the following:
□ refers back to the topic/thesis
□ moves forward in a smooth transition to the next body paragraph □ Conclusion—avoid “in conclusion” and other similar phrases
□ Summarize results of body paragraph discussion
□ Include relevant personal opinion
□ End with a “big picture” idea. This can refer back to the opening hook, or look into how the history relates to current events, or suggest something about the future.
Cite ALL sources. For MLA use both in-text citations and a Works Cited page. For Chicago, use both footnotes and a Bibliography page. NEVER use words or ideas from a source without proper credit. [Show Less]